The Blue Aeroplanes - Huh! The Best of The Blue Aeroplanes (1987-1992) (2003)

Huh!: The Best, 1987-1992 is a handy sampler of the Blue Aeroplanes' middle period and a fine introduction to this cultily adored band. Many times compilations aren't the way to go with discovering a band's work, but this one is a handy précis of the Bristol-based band's most consistent and listenable work, ignoring both scattershot early albums like 1984's Bop Art and the group's comparatively uninspired later albums. Covering the four albums between 1987's Spitting out Miracles and 1991's Beatsongs (not including 1988's Friendloverplane, which collects stray tracks from their earlier indie releases), the 16-track compilation wisely stays away from Gerard Langley's more pretentious moments, which have always been the Blue Aeroplanes' undoing, in favor of chiming, winsome guitar pop tunes like "And Stones" and the wry anti-music-business screed "Fun." Tunes like the charmingly rustic "Jack Leaves and Back Spring" suggest that the Blue Aeroplanes could have been the post-punk Fairport Convention if they'd wanted, but most of Huh! shows the Blue Aeroplanes in their most familiar element, making rather arty guitar pop for progressively minded indie kids.